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When you leave Anysberg Nature Reserve you take nothing with you. Nothing except the overwhelming impression of abundance, plenitude and vast riches; of wide open planes, never-ending mountains and night skies heavy with stars.

It's a three-hour drive on the N1 till Laingsburg from Cape Town before the dirt road to the reserve starts. But soon the sight of the beautiful Paarl valley gets you into an appropriately rustic mood, and you put the hustle and bustle of the city firmly behind you. On arrival at Anysberg you tumble out of the car and into your bed, looking forward to breakfast under the rhus tree (kareeboom) in front of your self-catering cottage.

After breakfast, time for action - you're going on a two-day horse trail. Reserve manager, Marius Brand, and field ranger, Willem Fullard, show you the basics of preparing your trusted steed for the ride. You set out, holding your reigns firmly, and get your first impression of the vastness that is Anysberg. Your guides point out various fynbos wonders, and darting klipspringers. We also pass a troop of elegant gemsbok who gaze at us quietly. The reserve's 62 500 hectares spread out around us. We're alone. We see no other signs of human habitation or activity, just seemingly endless mountains and fields of fynbos and karoo.

Night time. If you have the energy, you will find that getting a potjie going is just the right thing to do to end off a glorious day. Sipping port while waiting for the potjie helped warm us against the cool night air.

Then it's time to go to bed, under the stars. The milky-way is double thick cream tonight, and you're amazed that it's the same sky you see from your window in the city.

We stop by a rock art site. The drawings make compelling viewing. For a second you're transported 10, 20 000 years back and the finely etched drawings recall the artists and their world. It's like coming upon treasure. It is treasure, and the reserve only allows guided viewings.

Back at the cottages there's a resevoir to wash the Karoo dust off. Then it's time to say our good-byes, knowing that we've left behind something that's being taken care of. So we can come back.

Reservations

To make a booking please contact our reservations office

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